Amberley’s growing pains: Is a bypass needed?
Could Amberley be the next North Canterbury town to build a bypass?
While the Woodend Bypass looks set to finally be built after decades of planning, residents have suggested a heavy vehicle bypass should be included in the Hurunui District Council’s south ward spatial plan.
State Highway 1 cuts through the towns of Woodend and Amberley, north of Christchurch.
The council received 41 submissions during its recent consultation, with several suggesting solutions to address safety concerns on Carters Rd, as the town continues to grow.
One submitter called on the council to ‘‘push the Government to start planning’’ a bypass and to ‘‘start drawing some lines on a map to show options of where this could be located’’.
Another submitter wanted a pedestrian overbridge on Carters Rd and suggested the council seek out ‘‘philanthropic investors’’.
With housing growth planned for east Amberley, a second primary school was proposed to alleviate safety concerns for children crossing Carters Rd to get to Amberley School.
There were mixed views on whether the council should apply to Environment Canterbury for public transport provision.
Several submitters supported the idea, while some wanted the beach communities included and others questioned whether it was necessary.
South Ward Committee chairperson Jo Hassall said there have been a variety of views expressed on the subject of a bypass.
“I know a couple of people have said ‘why isn’t it on the table?’
“But others have said ‘why would you, because it would take traffic away from the businesses’.”
Hassall said she was unsure a bus service would be financially viable.
“It would need to be available when people need it, otherwise it wouldn’t be viable.
“There is already a community bus service which is available and it is great for older people who don’t drive.”
She said people moved to places like Leithfield and the beach communities for the lifestyle and they were used to driving themselves to Rangiora and Christchurch, with many commuting to work.
In a report to last week’s South Ward Committee meeting, the council’s planning team leader, Nicola Kirby, said staff had liaised with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi , which advised an Amberley bypass was ‘‘not a current priority’’.
But a resource consent was granted earlier this year for a truck stop at the Grays Rd/State Highway 1 intersection.
‘‘If this development occurs it may have implications for heavy vehicle movements which will need to be further considered,’’ she said.
The council had proposed zoning land next to Grays Rd in west Amberley for industrial use.
But residents raised concerns about the noise, outlook and the impact on property values.
Staff were now considering land between Lawcocks and Grays roads, to the west of the Kowai River north branch, Kirby said.
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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